Adviser Sakhawat seeks mutual cooperation of development partners to ensure working environment

Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain today (15 March) sought mutual cooperation among all development partner countries to ensure a decent working environment for workers.

He, who is currently on a visit to Geneva to participate in the 353rd Governing Body meeting of the ILO, came up with the call while exchanging views with members of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland last day, said a release received here this noon.

Referring to the historic Student-People's Mass Uprising in July-August, 2024, the adviser said, "The interim government is firmly committed to creating a decent working environment for the workers in line with international labour standards."

The Bangladesh Mission in Geneva organized the program, where four ministers from Japan, Tanzania, Niger and Malawi while the ambassadors and high commissioners from 20 countries, including the United States, India, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Japan, Oman, the Philippines, Nepal, the Netherlands, and Mozambique, as well as representatives of international workers' and employers' organizations took part in.

During the meeting, the adviser discussed in detail the overall improvement of labour conditions in Bangladesh, emphasizing the protection of workers' rights, the release mentioned.

He said about 70 percent of women workers in Bangladesh are involved in the ready-made garment (RMG) industry, which is making an outstanding contribution to women's empowerment and economic emancipation as well.

The adviser also attended a dinner with the Labour and Employment Secretary, the Permanent Representative of the Bangladesh Mission in Geneva and some guests from 20 states.